’Runners look for momentum in series finale today
It certainly hasn’t been the start to the season the Cal State Bakersfield baseball team had hoped for, with three wins in 19 games this season and an 0-2 start to Big West Conference play.
But seventh-year Roadrunner head coach Jeremy Beard isn’t ready to hit the panic button.
It’s way too early in the season and Beard and CSUB has been close in just about every game, losing eight games by three runs or loss, including three 1-run losses with two coming in extra innings.
“We have a relentless group of guys right here,” said Beard following a 2-0 loss in the Big West opener on Friday at Hardt Field. “There’s never doubt in their mind. They’re playing hard, they’re playing well and I’m proud of their defense. We’re pitching the ball pretty well and our guys have been right there in every game. We just have to find a way to finish some of these.”
On Friday night, the Roadrunners rallied late. After being held to just two hits through 8-plus innings, four of the next six batters reached to put the potential tying runs on base in the eighth and ninth innings.
With two outs in the eighth, freshman Jonah Shields singled and moved to second on a base hit by Matthew Kurata, chasing Rainbow Warriors starter Alex Giroux in the process. But Itsuki Takemoto struck out Honolulu native Brock Perreira on three matches to stall the rally.
In the ninth, Cody Hendriks got things started with a one-out double and pinch-hitter Noah Alvarez followed with a walk to bring up the winning run in Frontier grad Kobe Silva. Once again Hawaii suppressed the threat with Takemoto striking Silva out to end the game. Hendriks
went 2 for 4, the only CSUB player with multiple hits.
“They have some really good pitching over there,” Beard said. (Giroux) was awfully good. I felt like he got some extended edges there and that’s part of the game. He made it hard on our hitters. He was inside and outside and we had a lot of weak contact outs. So you’re going to tip your hat there. But our guys are swinging the bat better now. We had kind of an off night, but we have to stay with our approach and not press, and keep playing the game hard.”
The shutout loss spoiled a solid performance from Roadrunner junior Ryan Verdugo, who gave up just one earned run in seven innings, scattering seven hits and striking out seven with just two walks.
“Ryan came out and did a really nice job attacking the zone with authority,” said Beard of his righthander, who was lifted after making 108 pitches. “He didn’t get a whole lot of high strikes, which he was pretty good at throwing that pitch tonight. I felt like his pitch count could have been lowered a little bit
if we stuck those (pitches) a little better, but I tell you what, he did a very nice job and I’m proud of his effort.”
In Saturday’s afternoon matchup against the Rainbow Warriors, CSUB spotted Hawaii a 9-0 lead before coming to life with a 6-run fifth to make it interesting in an eventual 11-7 loss.
“Our guys play every pitch,” said Beard, whose team features 16 newcomers. “They fought every pitch until the last out. We’re proud of their effort, you just want to get that timely hit on occasion … But you can’t worry about the results too much, you just have to worry about the process. Every pitch and not press too much, and just stay in the game.”
The two teams finish their threegame series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
“If we can get over the hump and win some of these close ones when we have runners in scoring position …” Beard said. “We’ve had a lot of close games this year against a lot of quality opponents. We just want our guys to continue to take quality at-bats and hope the balls (find a hole). There’s a lot of green out there and eventually I think these will fall for these guys.”